Quarter Finals : Australia v South Africa

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Wallabies send defending champs home

A general view of a srummage during quarter final three of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup between South Africa and Australia at Wellington Regional Stadium on October 9, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

( October 8, 2011 - Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Despite being under the cosh for most of the game, Australia held on to beat South Africa 11-9 in a thrilling World Cup quarter-final in Wellington on Sunday.
The Wallabies scored the only try of the game but needed a late James O'Connor penalty to scrape past the dominant Springboks.
The defending champions made most of the running but failed to convert their chances into points and Australia held a 8-3 advantage when the teams swapped ends.
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Credit to the Wallaby defence though for holding wave after wave of attack at bay.
Man of the match: The thorn in the Springboks' side from start to finish, David Pocock lived up to his billing as a game breaker. Crucial turnovers at crucial times - that's what they call big match temperament.
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_7231950,00.html
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Pierre Spies of South Africa (C) is tackled by James O'Connor (L) and Rocky Elsom of Australia during quarter final three of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup between South Africa and Australia at Wellington Regional Stadium on October 9, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

( October 8, 2011 - Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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Pocock at the heart of Wallabies win
Australia somehow turned a spluttering lineout, an embattled scrum and minimal territory into an 11-9 win over South Africa and a place in the semi-finals of Rugby World Cup 2011.
When referee Bryce Lawrence blew for full-time the Wallabies had their error-forcing defence and especially man-of-the-match David Pocock to thank for dethroning the defending champions. The flanker's heroic work at the breakdown saved them time after time when South Africa were on the attack.
The Australians were forced to make 147 tackles to South Africa's 53 as the Springboks sent wave after wave of big, powerful runners at their line.
Aside from Pocock's crucial turnovers, South Africa were hampered by making too many mistakes in potential try-scoring situations under defensive pressure and will rue their 11 handling errors in the match. They also missed their main breakdown warrior, Heinrich Brüssow, who came off after 20 minutes.
match page with video:
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/matches/match=11229/analysis.html#pocock+heart+wallabies
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James Horwill of Australia goes over the line to score their first try during quarter final three of the 2011 IRB Rugby World Cup between South Africa and Australia at Wellington Regional Stadium on October 9, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand.

( October 8, 2011 - Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images AsiaPac)

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next test:
Semi-Finals
10-16
Australia v New Zealand
Auckland
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